Note: The following information is based on unofficial results from Denton, Tarrant and Wise counties. Votes will be officially canvassed on May 16.

Voters approve $399 million bond packageAccording to preliminary results as of 10 p.m. May 6, the Northwest ISD community approved the $399 million bond referendum, with 61 percent voting “for” the bond.

From the approximately 65,200 registered voters in Northwest ISD, 4,780 voted and 2,884 of those voters participated in early voting. The number voting “for” the referendum totaled 2,909, and the number “against” totaled 1,871. Northwest ISD has successfully passed bond referendums for the past 27 years.

“Thank you to our community for their continued support of our school district,” said Superintendent Ryder Warren, Ed.D. “This result shows the fast growth NISD is experiencing and will continue to experience is understood by our community.”

Enrollment is expected to increase by an additional 6,200 students during the next five years. The district’s growth is a result of several factors: the size of the school district; the number of active housing developments; and the attractive housing, retail and business industry in the immediate area. Combined with current school district projects, the bond will provide for an additional 7,000 student seats. More than two-thirds of the approved bond package addresses student growth. Major new or improved facility highlights include:

Three new elementary schools

A replacement school for Haslet Elementary

Renovation of the existing Haslet Elementary to serve as a district instructional facility

Expansions of Byron Nelson and Eaton high schools (to 3,200 students)

Expansions of Medlin and Tidwell middle schools (to 1,200 students)

Expansions for three existing elementary schools (to 850 students)

Note: The district will closely monitor housing developments to determine which campuses would increase from 650 to 850 capacity.

A district aquatic center to serve all campuses

A classroom addition to Beck Elementary to allow growth for current enrollment

Outdoor fieldhouses for Byron Nelson and Northwest high schools

“I would like to acknowledge the work of our long-range planning committee for putting together a package that truly prioritized and planned for the needs of our students and staff,” said Dr. Warren. “With the passing of this bond, our students and staff can continue to experience the same quality of educational facilities, academic programs, technology and more in which they have grown accustomed.”

The maximum tax impact of the 2017 bond is $0.0375 for a total tax rate of $1.49. For a home valued at $250,000 (the average home value for residents in Northwest ISD), this represents an increase of approximately $7.03 per month. Northwest ISD property taxes for citizens age 65 or older are not affected by the bond election as long as a homestead and over 65-exemption application was filed with the local appraisal district.

The district currently serves more than 22,000 students with only 23 percent of available land being used for housing purposes. When all residential land is developed and occupied in Northwest ISD, the district could serve 95,000 students.

“Northwest ISD has made preparing for future growth a high priority,” said Warren. “NISD ranks fifth in the region for new home construction. Demographers tell us we are growing roughly an elementary school a year. We are excited to continue this process of planning for our growth.”

At 234 square miles, Northwest ISD is one of the largest school districts in the area and spans three counties (Tarrant, Denton, and Wise) and 14 municipalities. Northwest ISD operates 27 campuses and has approximately 22,200 students. As a fast growth district, the district expected to serve more than 34,000 students in the next ten years.

Voters elect Sprowls, Rauch and Fuller as trusteesThe Northwest ISD community has elected to fill three seats on the district’s Board of Trustees. On the May 6 ballot were Tammy Eck (Haslet), Taylor Harrington (Fort Worth), Matthew Hooper (Trophy Club), Steve Sprowls (Fort Worth) and Jennifer Zazula (Trophy Club) for Place 5; Carissa Barrett (Fort Worth) and Lillian Rauch (Trophy Club) for Place 6; and Mel Fuller (Trophy Club) for Place 7.

Steve Sprowls was elected to Place 5. Incumbent Lillian Rauch was reelected to Place 6. Rauch was previously elected to the board in 2014. Incumbent Mel Fuller, running unopposed, was elected to Place 7. Fuller has served on the board since 2008. Votes will be canvased on Tuesday, May 16, and elected board members will be sworn in at the May 22 school board meeting.

Northwest ISD’s seven-member Board of Trustees is responsible for establishing policies of the district and for ensuring its financial viability. Trustees employ the superintendent, approve the budget, monitor expenditures, set the tax rate and call bond elections. Members are elected to a three-year term of office. On a 2-2-3 rotating basis, all board members are elected at-large. Trustees provide service to the Northwest ISD communities without financial compensation.

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